Report: Will Kerr stay with Suns?

[lou_skywalker]

http://valleysports.freedomblogging.com/2009/03/13/will-kerr-stay-with-suns/

saw this thread in realgm.com, so i thought just put it up here for discussion.

 

[Yuma]

I gotta say I am not impressed by Kerr's moves so far. I think we need a better GM and Coach. The only part of the organization that seems to excel is the medical and tarining staff. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if we cleaned house at GM and Coach.

 

[ShuHanGuanYu]

I more blame the theory of heavily relying on old past-their-prime players and refusing to draft and grow players from within, and that started before Kerr. If we are so worried about money, there's no cheaper contract than a four-year rookie deal with two team option years. The drought we will be going through in the next two plus years is due to selling draft picks.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Doesn't matter. Sarver will still be the owner and we'd just promote Griffin from within who's just as bad.

 

[AceP]

I am minority here. In defence of Kerr, here is something I think Kerr did very well as GM.

#1. Marion and Banks for Shaq trade. Shaq might not be a good fit for Nash and Amare's game, but you got to check out how fast Marion has declined, and how barely Banks gets dressed. I'd give this deal a score of 80 out of 100.

#2. Signed Hill by bi-annual-exception. It was the first few things Kerr did when he took the GM chair. Give him credit for that.

#3. Sign Barnes by veteran minimal. Barnes is not the most consistent player. He had great games while some others not so impressive. But how much can you ask from a minimal contract?

#4. Signed Amundson by just 700k.

Kerr is a green GM, he made mistakes, but who didn't? Even Popovich did trade Scola to Houston for nothing. Dumars drafted Milicic ahead of Wade.

 

[lou_skywalker]

I am minority here. In defence of Kerr, here is something I think Kerr did very well as GM.

#1. Marion and Banks for Shaq trade. Shaq might not be a good fit for Nash and Amare's game, but you got to check out how fast Marion has declined, and how barely Banks gets dressed. I'd give this deal a score of 80 out of 100.

#2. Signed Hill by bi-annual-exception. It was the first few things Kerr did when he took the GM chair. Give him credit for that.

#3. Sign Barnes by veteran minimal. Barnes is not the most consistent player. He had great games while some others not so impressive. But how much can you ask from a minimal contract?

#4. Signed Amundson by just 700k.

Kerr is a green GM, he made mistakes, but who didn't? Even Popovich did trade Scola to Houston for nothing. Dumars drafted Milicic ahead of Wade.

yeah actually Kerr is put into a difficult situation right now.
He is forced to get rid of either Nash Shaq or Amare this off season because of Sarver. He does feel connected to the players and is not much worse that the Colangelos

Sarver is the one who has to go, all the bad moves we made (selling picks etc) are because of money. We need a responsible owner who knows how a NBA franchise works.

 

[Mainstreet]

Doesn't matter. Sarver will still be the owner and we'd just promote Griffin from within who's just as bad.

Just say no to Kerr and Griffin. Griffin might have some value in the FO if he just stuck to doing finances. I'd also like Sarver to sell the team but that is probably just wishful thinking.

Please, I do not want Kerr and Griffin scouting players for the Suns.

 

[cly2tw]

Barnes is a cheap signing and produces commenserate with his price tag. I'd rather have us sign Roger Mason for a little more.

Kerr's main problem was the naivety as displayed in Porter signing. In hindsight, it could be expected that Porter couldn't make Nash and his follower Bell buy into his concept for lack of respect and authority. If only DA could swallow his pride and coax Nash into playing like Stockton, with Shaq's play, and one season togehter, this team might have had a chance, as long as they don't face Spurs in the playoffs.

 

[lou_skywalker]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/140192-kerr-to-blame-for-suns-slide

another article blaming Kerr

 

[AceP]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/140192-kerr-to-blame-for-suns-slide

another article blaming Kerr

Kerr started something. Now, FINISH IT!

Move backward IS NOT AN OPTION.

 

[Errntknght]

A poorly written piece that isn't even accurate - the writer says that Kerr took over the GM job from JC, forgetting entirely the reign of D'Antoni with dual roles. Compounding that error he credits Kerr with losing the picks that got Rondo and Fernandez for other teams. The latter was on his watch - stemming from the KT 'trade' - but certainly Rondo was chosen while Mike D was running the show. Sergio Rodriquez, another guard popular in here, that was unmentioned was due to D'Antoni. (The way he talks you'd think the Suns actually chose those players then traded them - credit we don't deserve because we followed instructions on who to chose since the deals were already done.)
In fact, the KT 'trade' was more of a collusion between D'Antoni and Sarver than a brain child of Kerr's - though Steve did botch the negotiations. Mike was reluctant to play KT and Sarver was reluctant to pay him so Kerr got to do their dirty work.
The overall tenor was set by those two - D'Antoni didn't want to have rookies on the team and Sarver way always glad to sell a draft pick for 3 mil. We even sold a second round draft pick for a couple of hundred K - the one I remember resulted in Marcin Gortat, though we'd have never have picked him as he's a big and strong rebounder. (Before Kerr's assuming the job.)
We don't even know the true story on the Shaq trade - it was initially reported as having been D'Antoni's idea and he was quoted in the press as being enthused about it - I suspect because he wanted to get rid of Marcus Banks, who was a living stigmata from his time as GM, and was tired of dealing with Marion. I can't imagine Mike coveted Shaq as a player - and I don't pretend to know the truth about the trade with the 'spin' the Suns put on everything.

 

[HooverDam]

I am minority here. In defence of Kerr, here is something I think Kerr did very well as GM.

#1. Marion and Banks for Shaq trade. Shaq might not be a good fit for Nash and Amare's game, but you got to check out how fast Marion has declined, and how barely Banks gets dressed. I'd give this deal a score of 80 out of 100.

What evidence do you have that Marion would've declined like that in Phoenix? Look how bad Shaq was doing in Miami before he came here. Its not as if Marion just forgot how to play over night, he hasn't been somewhere that suited him perfectly like he was here. That trade was horrific both on the court (look at our winning percentage before and after) and from a financial perspective.

#2. Signed Hill by bi-annual-exception. It was the first few things Kerr did when he took the GM chair. Give him credit for that.

Why should he get credit for that? Hill wanted to come here very badly, anyone could've made that deal happen. If Kerr screwed it up, now that would've been notable.

#3. Sign Barnes by veteran minimal. Barnes is not the most consistent player. He had great games while some others not so impressive. But how much can you ask from a minimal contract?

Again, its not like a ton of teams were vying for Barnes with better deals than what the Suns offered. This was an easy signing to do, with the economy in the dumps and teams playing for 2010 Barnes probably had few offers, and even fewer with up tempo teams.

#4. Signed Amundson by just 700k.

Again, who was going to sign Lou for more than that? Its likely more happy luck that Lou's worked out as well as he has. I highly doubt Kerr saw something in Lous 26 games in Philly, he was just filling out the roster w/ a big body.

Kerr is a green GM, he made mistakes, but who didn't? Even Popovich did trade Scola to Houston for nothing. Dumars drafted Milicic ahead of Wade.

Yep, those guys made a mistake or two, Kerrs o-fer on big deals so far. The best deal he's made is probably the Richardson deal, but even thats been disappointing.

I don't think I can ever forgive Kerr for the Kurt Thomas deal, that was insanity. KT was such a perfect fit for this teams front court at the time and he sold him down the river and the future down the river with him.

Its going to be awful being in the lottery in 2010 and not having a pick.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Sarver made Kerr dump Thomas' salary.

Do I think Kerr got hosed on the deal? Absolutely, but he wouldn't have made the deal were it not for Sarver's refusal to pay the extra cap hit.

 

[Cheesewater]

What evidence do you have that Marion would've declined like that in Phoenix? Look how bad Shaq was doing in Miami before he came here. Its not as if Marion just forgot how to play over night, he hasn't been somewhere that suited him perfectly like he was here. That trade was horrific both on the court (look at our winning percentage before and after) and from a financial perspective.

One can make an inference on the evidence at hand. Marion isn't playing well. If the conditions have to be just right for Marion to play well, that doesn't look good for Marion as a player does it?

Why should he get credit for that? Hill wanted to come here very badly, anyone could've made that deal happen. If Kerr screwed it up, now that would've been notable.

So you only discredit someone for a supposed mistake but give no credit when the outcome is good? You don't know what it took to get Hill to sign. If Kerr is as awful as you say, WOULDN'T he have screwed it up?

Again, its not like a ton of teams were vying for Barnes with better deals than what the Suns offered. This was an easy signing to do, with the economy in the dumps and teams playing for 2010 Barnes probably had few offers, and even fewer with up tempo teams.

How do you know how many teams were interested in Barnes? Again, saying anyone could have done it is pure hatespeak.

Again, who was going to sign Lou for more than that? Its likely more happy luck that Lou's worked out as well as he has. I highly doubt Kerr saw something in Lous 26 games in Philly, he was just filling out the roster w/ a big body.

I'll bet there a a few teams who would pay him more now. By the way, Lou was D-League ROY. All D-League First Team. It was good scouting that brought us Lou, and a bargain at that. Also, it is a 2 year contract. That's foresight, homes. Why would you sign just any old big body to a 2 year deal?

I don't think I can ever forgive Kerr for the Kurt Thomas deal, that was insanity. KT was such a perfect fit for this teams front court at the time and he sold him down the river and the future down the river with him.

Kurt Thomas never has been and never will be the only missing piece to someone's championship.

Its going to be awful being in the lottery in 2010 and not having a pick.

You overvalue draft picks.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

You overvalue draft picks.

Every championship NBA team was built through draft picks.

How dismal would our future and present look right now with Rajon Rondo and Rudy Fernandez on dirt cheap contracts?

 

[Mainstreet]

Every championship NBA team was built through draft picks.

I think KG and Ray Allen might have had some major impact on the Celtics 2008 Championship.

 

[carey]

Oh you and your logic.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I think KG and Ray Allen might have had some major impact on the Celtics 2008 Championship.

C'mon...look at the last 20 years. With the exception of Boston and Miami, which are 2 of the 20 years, every other champ has been a result of good drafting. (Yes, Kobe was drafted by the Hornets, but has always been a Laker)

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I think KG and Ray Allen might have had some major impact on the Celtics 2008 Championship.

And how'd they acquire those players?

Oh yeah, by stockpiling draft picks. The Celtics shipped out five of their former 1st round draft picks to get these two players. So again, how worthless are draft picks?

 

[Mainstreet]

C'mon...look at the last 20 years. With the exception of Boston and Miami, which are 2 of the 20 years, every other champ has been a result of good drafting. (Yes, Kobe was drafted by the Hornets, but has always been a Laker)

I think Kobe might have needed a little help from Shaq who was not drafted by the Lakers to win those Championships.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I think Kobe have needed a little help from Shaq who was not drafted by the Lakers.

Of course, but the vast majority of that team was comprised of Laker draft picks, just like very other major champion of the last 20 years. Of course there are exceptions, but the vast majority of teams that win championships are with homegrown players. I think we can all agree with that.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Of course, but the vast majority of that team was comprised of Laker draft picks, just like very other major champion of the last 20 years. Of course there are exceptions, but the vast majority of teams that win championships are with homegrown players. I think we can all agree with that.

Or are won by players acquired by trading homegrown players. You can't just draft crappy players and sign FA's and expect to win championships.

 

[Mainstreet]

So as much as I dislike Ainge, as a GM he got it done for the Celtics. Who knows if the Suns had a better GM than Kerr, the Suns might have figured a way to get KG using Marion. There were rumors to that effect.

 

[Cheesewater]

And how'd they acquire those players?

Oh yeah, by stockpiling draft picks. The Celtics shipped out five of their former 1st round draft picks to get these two players. So again, how worthless are draft picks?

Who said "worthless"?

The league and its history is littered with teams who drafted well and never even got to a Conference Final.

 

[Cheesewater]

Or are won by players acquired by trading homegrown players. You can't just draft crappy players and sign FA's and expect to win championships.

You should never EXPECT to win championships. That's a problem with many fans.